By Kat Procyk
Photography by Kelsey Muchnok, Eye & Ear Foundation
Evan “Jake” Waxman speaking with volunteers for Community Vision Day on Dec. 6, 2025.
A patient who gave her name as Mama Adrienne had been struggling with runny eyes and blurred vision before she arrived in the United States from Congo about two years ago.
Mama Adrienne, who now lives in Glendale, said she was given eye drops in her home country, but without insurance coverage in the United States, her eyesight continued deteriorating. She was thrilled to be able to book an appointment for the first ever Community Vision Day, a new event held at the UPMC Vision Institute in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
The event offered free vision care and exams with University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC ophthalmologists as well as insurance navigation. Insurance wasn’t required for treatment, and many patients, like Mama Adrienne, were referred to Community Vision Day through the Mission of Mercy clinic, which provides free dental, vision and hearing care.
Community Vision Day is part of a larger initiative through the UPMC Vision Institute, the clinical and research arm for Pitt’s Department of Ophthalmology, and the Eye & Ear Foundation to provide vision care and insurance help to the local community. Expanding access to vision care has long been a mission of José-Alain Sahel, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Eye and Ear Foundation Department of Ophthalmology Professor and Chair, School of Medicine, and director, UPMC Vision Institute, and Evan “Jake” Waxman, professor of ophthalmology and vice chair of medical education, School of Medicine, and division chief of comprehensive eye service, UPMC.
The initiative started 20 years ago with Guerrilla Eye Service, a student-run, mobile health clinic Waxman developed to help eliminate barriers to eye care. Now known as Eyes on Wheels, it also inspired the Eye & Ear Foundation's eyeVan initiative, which brings care to assisted living facilities, community centers and churches throughout Pennsylvania and, recently, western Maryland.
Patients walking into the waiting area for Community Vision Day on Dec. 6, 2025.
“Community Vision Day is a culmination of all the feedback we collected from patients and stakeholders about our community’s needs,” said Zeila Hobson, research project manager, in the Departments of Ophthalmology and of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine. “Over the past few years, we’ve listened closely and uncovered challenges like lack of insurance, food insecurity, transportation difficulties and the reality that many people simply cannot see a doctor at 2 p.m. on a weekday. Our programming this year has centered on that recognition—that health care must adapt to the realities of people’s lives, and that addressing these barriers is essential to ensuring vulnerable populations are not left behind.”
The event had an enormous turnout with 135 patients being treated throughout the day. Multiple translators were also available for non-English speakers. Mama Adrienne, for example, used a French translator for her appointment.
“We are a little overwhelmed with the number of patients that need to be seen, but we’re going to take care of everyone,” Waxman said on the morning of the event. “I’ve already prescribed medication for glaucoma and screened people for diabetic retinopathy who hadn’t had their exams in a while. I’ve already signed patients up for cataract surgery who wouldn’t otherwise have gotten the exam. It’s really telling of the need for eye care.”
Students from Pitt’s School of Medicine volunteered as patient advocates, measured pupillary distance and fitted eyeglasses—skills they had learned as part of Eyes on Wheels.
“Regardless of whether a student plans to pursue ophthalmology, showing up to these events is about practicing communication and patient-centered care,” said Susan Kong, a third-year student at Pitt’s School of Medicine. “You don’t need specialized eye-care skills to be useful—just a willingness to engage. At the same time, these events expose us to a wide range of eye conditions and teach us how systemic medical problems often reveal themselves in the eyes. That knowledge is valuable in any specialty, because many patients only realize something is wrong once vision issues appear. By participating, we not only learn clinical signs but also help address health literacy, which is a major barrier to care. Simply being present, listening and caring for patients—and even sharing what we learn with friends and family—can make a real difference.”
After her appointment, Mama Adrienne ran to her grandson with a big grin on her face. She received a new pair of eyeglasses and was provided drops for her runny eyes. Her ophthalmologist also caught a cataract in its early stages in one of her eyes and scheduled an appointment for further treatment—all covered by vision insurance backed by the event.
“I really appreciate being here,” she said. “It’s a big change in my body and how I feel, and I think I’ll live a healthier life because of it.”